The Facebook photo filter featuring Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go

HOUSE Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on Thursday, February 15, said he will convince Special Assistant to the President Christopher "Bong" Go to run for senator in the 2019 midterm elections.

âIâd like to convince someone to run for senator. Iâd like to convince Christopher Lawrence Goâ"do you know him? No? Do you know Bong Go who is always with the President? Heâs the one whoâs always taking selfie, the selfie king?â Alvarez told the more than 5,000 politcians who took their oath as PDP-Laban members in Bacong, Negros Oriental on Thursday.

Alvarez said he will persuade Go as PDP-Laban needs to have a Mindanaoan senatorial candidate in its line-up.

There has been no confirmation from these officials yet. Most of them earlier denied having any interest in the 2019 elections, but thanked Alvarez for considering them among the possible PDP-Laban senatorial candidates.

Uson earlier said she had no plan to run in the forthcoming polls while Roque said he does not have the means to run for the senatorial race.

Nograles, for his part, said it is too soon to tell if he will run for a Senate seat.

Alvarez urged the new members of the ruling party to support its senatorial ticket. He said the Senate needs new members to speed up processing of bills.

Alvarez previously called the Senate the "mabagal na kapulungan" (slow chamber) for sitting on priority bills, including the revival of the death penalty bill.

PDP-Laban has yet to finalize its senatorial slate for the 2019 polls. (SunStar Philippines)